Recording Features
View, Edit, And Print Images
Battery Information
Inputs and Outputs
Supplied Software
Recording Features
3" LCD Screen: The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 digital
camera has a 3.0" Clear Photo LCD Plus display with 230,400 pixels
(resolution 960 x 240), and features a special anti-reflective coating for sharp
visibility, even in bright sunlight. The LCD screen allows you to view an image
before taking a picture and replay images that have been stored in memory.
Through the Screen Display Settings, you can select a bright or normal LCD
display with or without exposure data. The camera does not include a separate
viewfinder.
Dual Media: This camera has 45 MB of internal memory. This
camera is also compatible with the following recording media: Memory Stick PRO
Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo, SD and SDHC memory cards. Cards with a capacity of up to 32 GB
have been confirmed to be compatible.
Image Recording Format: The camera records still images in
JPEG format. Moving images with audio (stereo) are recorded in MPEG-4 Visual.
Image Sensor: For optimal image quality, the camera
uses a 7.76mm (1/2.3") Super HAD CCD imaging device with approximately 14.5-million gross pixels
and 14.1-million effective pixels.
BIONZ Image Processor: The digital camera's BIONZ image
processor delivers high resolution photos and fast still photography
performance.
G-Series Lens: Designed and manufactured to the highest standards of
optical performance, the Sony G-Lens is optimized to perfectly complement the
advanced image sensors and image processing technology in Sony's cameras. The
DSC-H55 camera features a wide-angle G-series lens that will widen your
view and capture more of the city, landscape, or group portrait. The lens
has a 10x optical zoom and a focal length of 25mm
to 250mm (35mm equivalent) for still images, 30-300mm for 16:9 movies and
36-360mm for 4:3 movies. It has a maximum aperture range of F3.5(W) to
F5.5(T).
Smart/Precision Digital Zoom: The camera has a
Precision Digital Zoom of 2x. Combined with the 10x optical zoom, the maximum
total zoom is 20x. The camera's Smart zoom technology intelligently uses the
full image sensor to let you zoom into the portion of interest by
cropping the image size, thus avoiding the image degradation found in most
digital zooms. The maximum
zoom scale depends upon the image size:
| Image Size |
Maximum Smart
Zoom |
| 10M |
11x |
| 5M |
16x |
| VGA |
67x |
| 16:9 (2M) |
22x |
Note: Smart zoom is not compatible with
14M or 16:9 (11M)
Optical SteadyShot: With Optical SteadyShot image
stabilization, the DSC-H55 uses a built-in gyro sensor to compensate for shaky
hands, minimize blur, brighten images, and allow flash-free shooting to preserve
the mood.
Still Image Size: When recording digital still
images, the DSC-H55 allows you to choose from six image sizes:
|
Image Size |
Internal Memory |
Memory Card
Capacity |
|
Approx. 45 MB |
4 GB |
32 GB |
14M
(4320x 3240) |
7 |
605 |
4932 |
10M
(3648 x 2736) |
9 |
808 |
6588 |
5M
(2592 x 1944) |
14 |
1168 |
9524 |
VGA
(640 x 480) |
284 |
23600 |
192380 |
16:9-11M
(4320 x 2432) |
8 |
733 |
5974 |
16:9-2M
(1920 x 1080) |
47 |
3934 |
32060 |
Recording Movies: Besides recording still images, you can also record moving images with sound. Moving images
can be recorded in MPEG-4 at 30 frames per second with AAC audio. Three movie
image sizes are available: 720 Fine (1280 x 720, 9 Mbps), 720 Standard (1280 x
720, 6 Mbps),
and VGA (640 x 480, 3 Mbps). Internal memory and memory card capacity for
movies is as follows:
|
Image Size |
Internal Memory |
Memory Card
Capacity
(hours:minutes:seconds) |
| Approx. 45 MB |
4 GB |
32 GB |
720 Fine
(1280 x 720) |
--- |
0:56:00 |
7:37:50 |
720 Standard
(1280 x 720) |
--- |
1:21:50 |
11:07:50 |
VGA
(640 x 480) |
0:01:40 |
2:43:40 |
22:15:50 |
Note: You can shoot continuously for
approximately 29 minutes.
Burst/Bracket Modes: The camera offers two multiple-image
shooting modes:
- Burst: The burst mode lets you shoot up to 100 images in
succession, at an interval of approximately 0.69 seconds, when you press and
hold down the shutter release. The number of photos and the interval are
determined by the selected picture size. Focus, White Balance, and Exposure Value (EV)
are set with the first image.
- Bracket: The bracket mode lets you shoot a series of 3
images, each with a different exposure setting--one at normal exposure, one
under exposed, and one over exposed. You can select three different step
values: 0.3 EV, 0.7 EV, or 1.0 EV. You can also choose a bracket mode with
the white balance at normal, shifted toward blue, and shifted toward red.
Self-Timer: You can set the
Self-Timer mode to a 10-second or 2-second delay so you can be in the
picture. You can also select two Self-Portrait Timer modes which will
capture the image 2 seconds after the face of one person or two people are
detected.
Focus Modes: You can select from three auto focusing
methods:
- Multi AF: The camera focuses in nine areas around the center of
the frame. This method is helpful when your subject is not centered in the
frame.
- Center AF: The camera focuses on a subject in the center of the
frame. By pressing the shutter release halfway, you can lock the focus on
your subject and recompose your shot with the subject off center.
- Spot AF: The camera focuses on a very small area in the center of
the frame.
AF Illuminator: The AF (auto
focus) Illuminator briefly provides fill light to focus more easily on a subject
in dark surroundings. You can set the AF Illuminator to Auto or Off.
Face Detection: Face Detection technology detects up to
eight individual faces and controls flash, focus, exposure, and white balance to
deliver accurate, natural skin tones with reduced red-eye. It can also give
priority to children or adults. You can also select and register an individual's
face to be given priority.
Anti-Blink Function: The Anti-blink function works to help
counter blinking and squinting. When the camera is set to Soft Snap, the
Anti-blink function captures two images, recording only the photo with less
squinting. If a blink is detected in other shooting modes, a warning will be
displayed after you take the shot so you can determine whether or not you need
to take another shot.
Smile Shutter Mode: The Smile Shutter technology
automatically detects and captures a smiling face. Simply activate by pressing
the Smile Shutter button and the camera will capture a smile the moment it
happens. You can select the degree of Smile Detection
Sensitivity to Slight smile, Normal smile or Big Smile.
Scene Recognition: Scene Recognition mode automatically detects eight different types of scenes and selects the appropriate camera settings:
Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Twilight using a Tripod, Backlight,
Backlight Portrait, Landscape, Portrait, and Macro. You can select from the following Scene Recognition
modes:
- iSCN: Camera detects conditions such as backlight or a
night scene and takes the shot using the optimal settings.
- iSCN+: Camera shoots one image without using the scene
recognition functions and another image using the scene recognition
function.
Shooting Modes: Using the top-mounted Mode Dial, you can
select from the following shooting modes:
- Intelligent Auto Mode (iAuto): Allows you to shoot
still images with the settings adjusted automatically.
- Easy Shooting Mode: Allows you to shoot still images
using the minimum necessary functions.
- Program Auto: Allows you to shoot with the exposure adjusted
automatically (both the shutter speed and aperture value). You can also
select various settings using the menu.
- Manual: You can set the exposure manually. The shutter speed can
be set between 1/1600 and 30 seconds. The aperture (F value) can be set
between F3.5 and F8 (Wide Angle) or between F5.5 and F13 (Telephoto).
- Sweep Panorama Mode: Simply press the shutter button and sweep
the camera in the desired direction (horizontal or vertical), and the camera
continuously shoots at a high speed and then seamlessly stitches the images
together with automatic position adjustment to create one stunning panoramic
image in the span of a second. Available in wide and ultra-wide options, the
camera can take panoramic shots of up to 224-degrees, which is wider than a
fish-eye lens.
- Scene Selection Modes: You can choose from the following Scene Selection modes:
- High Sensitivity: The camera shoots without flash in
low light, reducing blur. Any size image available. Sensitivity increased up
to ISO 3200.
- Soft Snap: Allows you to shoot images with a softer atmosphere
for portraits, flowers, etc.
- Advanced Sports Shooting: Allows you to shoot fast movements such
as in sports; while the shutter button is pressed halfway, subject motion is
predicted and focus is adjusted automatically.
- Landscape: This mode is used for shooting landscapes at
a distance.
- Twilight Portrait: This mode is used for shooting
people in the foreground at night.
- Twilight: This mode is used for shooting a distant
subject at night.
- Gourmet: Shoots food arrangements in delicious color.
- Pet: Allows you to shoot images of your pet with the
best settings.
- Beach: This mode is for shooting at seaside or the
lakeside.
- Snow: This mode shoots whitish scenes brightly.
- Fireworks: This mode allows you to record fireworks in
all their splendor.
- Movie Mode: Allows you to record MPEG-4 movies with stereo audio.
Exposure Compensation:
Besides auto exposure, you can adjust the exposure from +2.0EV to
-2.0EV in 1/3 stop increments.
Built-In Flash: The camera's built-in flash
features a range of 2"
to 13' 5-1/2" with the zoom set
to wide and 3' 3-3/8" to 8' 6-3/8" with the zoom set to telephoto. The flash
settings include:
- Auto: the flash automatically strobes when the surroundings are
dark
- On: the flash strobes with every shot
- Slow Synchro: the flash is used regardless of the amount of
ambient light, but the shutter speed is slower under dark conditions,
allowing you to clearly shoot a background that is out of the flash-lit
area.
- Off: the flash does not operate
Red-eye Reduction: The flash pre-strobes before shooting to
reduce the red-eye phenomenon. You can set to Auto (when Face Detection is
activated), On, or Off.
Metering Modes: You can select Spot, Center-weighted, or Multi-pattern Metering. Spot metering lets you adjust the
exposure to the subject, even when the subject is a backlit or when there is
strong contrast between the subject and the background. Center-weighted metering
measures the center of the image and determines the exposure based on the
brightness of the subject. When multi-pattern metering is used, the image is
divided into multiple regions and metering is performed in each region. The
camera judges the subject position and background brightness, and determines a
well-balanced exposure.
White Balance: When the white balance is
set to auto, the white balance is set automatically in response to the condition
of the subject, and the overall color balance is adjusted. When shooting under
special lighting conditions, you can select the settings manually. When using
flash, you can select the flash white balance mode. The white balance can also be set to Incandescent, Fluorescent 1 (white
fluorescent), Fluorescent 2 (natural white fluorescent), Fluorescent 3 (day
white fluorescent), Daylight, Cloudy, One Push (adjust white balance depending
on the light source) or One Push Set (memorizes the basic white color which
will be used).
Grid Lines: The cameras
on-screen grid lines make it easy to set a subject's horizontal and vertical
position.
Histogram: A histogram is a graph showing the brightness of an image.
The graph display indicates a bright image when skewed to the right side, and a
dark image when skewed to the left side.
Function Guide: An
on-screen function guide text/icon display makes it easy to learn the camera
functions that give you greater creative freedom to adjust photo settings. The
function guide can be turned on or off as desired.
Date and Time:
Each time you take a picture, the camera records the date and time. The date and
time are not superimposed on the picture, instead saved in a data file along
with the image. Using the included PMB software, you can print or save images
with the date.
View, Edit, And Print Images
View Modes: The Sony DCR-H55's View Mode allows you to
select your recorded images and movies by date, folder (stills), or folder (movies).
Auto Orientation: When the camera is rotate to shoot a portrait
(vertical) image, the camera records it position change and displays the image
in the portrait position.
Index View: In addition to viewing images one-by-one in full
screen, you can view multiple images at once in the index view mode. The index
feature lets you to display a total of 16 (4 x 4) or 25 (5 x 5) images.
Slide Show: The Slide Show function lets you play back
images one after the other. You can select from the following slide show effects
(Simple, Nostalgic, Stylish, or Active). Each effect has a preset music soundtrack, or you can choose
from the 4 selections. The interval between the pictures can be adjusted,
allowing you to choose 1, 3, 5, and 10 seconds or automatic to suit the selected effect. You can select Folder play (all images in the selected folder), All play
(all images on the memory card), or This Date (all images from selected date). When repeat
is selected, the images are replayed in a continuous loop.
Playback Zoom: You can enlarge a recorded still image up to eight
times the size of the original image. Once the image is zoomed, you can pan left
to right and up or down through the image.
Rotating Images: Recorded images can be rotated 360-degrees in
90-degree increments on the camera's LCD screen.
Retouching Still Images: You can add effects or make corrections to a
recorded images and then record it as a new file while the original image is
retained. You can use the following features to edit your recorded images:
- Trimming: playback zoom is performed on the image and
part of the image is cropped
- Red Eye Correction: corrects the red-eye phenomenon
caused by flash
- Unsharp Masking: sharpens the image within a chosen
frame
Music Transfer: You can change the music
files that are preset at the factory with your own music, using the Music
Transfer program in the supplied CD-ROM.
Deleting/Protecting
Images: You can delete a selected
image, or you can delete all the unprotected images at once. In order to avoid
accidentally deleting of an image, it can be protected.
Print Mark: You can place a print mark on still images recorded with this camera. This mark
is convenient when you have images printed at a shop that conforms to the DPOF
(Digital Print Order Format) standard.
Exif Print (Exif 2.21): The
DSC-H55 conforms to "Exif Print," a worldwide standard. Vital camera settings
(such as: exposure mode, white balance, exposure time) and scene data are
recorded to the image file when it is captured. Printers compatible with "Exif
Print" are able to use this information to produce high quality photographs,
exactly the way they were intended at the time of capture. This intelligent
communication process also allows the printer to correct for poor lighting or
mistakes, resulting in photos that can be even better than the originals.
PictBridge Printing
Capability: Using the supplied USB
cable, you can connect this camera directly to a PictBridge compliant printer.
PictBridge is a new standard that allows you to connect a PictBridge compliant
camera directly to a PictBridge compliant printer and make prints, regardless of
brand.
Battery Information
Battery Information: The DSC-H55 is powered by the
supplied NP-BG1 Lithium-ion rechargeable battery, or the optional NP-FG1
Lithium-Ion battery. Using the supplied BC-CSGE battery charger, the battery
reaches a normal charge in approximately 270 minutes and a full charge in 330
minutes. Under normal operating conditions, the
battery has the following capacity:
|
Function |
Number of Images |
Battery Life (min) |
| Recording
|
Approximately 310 |
Approximately 155 |
|
Playback |
Approximately 7400 |
Approximately 340 |
Auto Power-Off:
You can choose from two options of Power Save to conserve battery power:
- Stamina: darkens the LCD screen after about 30 seconds of no
operation, and turns off the camera after another 30 seconds of no
operation.
- Standard: darkens the LCD screen after about 1 minute of no
operation, and turns off the camera after another 1 minute of no operation.
- Off: Turns off power save mode.
Inputs and Outputs
USB/AV Output: The Sony DSC-H55 features a single
proprietary jack (Type 2b Multi-use terminal) on the bottom of the camera for connecting the supplied USB/AV
cable. This one output and cable allows you to download your photos to your
computer or printer via USB, or view your photos on a TV via composite video and
stereo audio RCA. The USB interface is USB 2.0 High Speed compatible.
High Definition Playback:
The Type 2b multi-use terminal can also output a high definition signal (1080i)
when selected in the menu. To view on an HDTV, you will need an optional Type
2b-compliant HD Output Adapter cable (VMC-MHC2 or VMC-MHC3).
Supplied Software
Software: The DSC-H55 comes with a CD-ROM containing the
following:
- Picture Motion Browser (Ver.5.0): compatible with
Windows operating systems only
- save and print images with the date
- display images stored on a computer by shooting date in a calendar
display
- correct still images and change the shooting date and time
- create discs with CD or DVD disc-writing drive
- upload images to media services
- Music Transfer: compatible with Windows and Macintosh
operating systems
- replace the music files on the camera and replace them with your own
selections; upload MP3s from your computer or music from CDs
- PMB Portable:
- upload images to a blog or other media
service
- upload images from a computer connected
to the Internet when you're away from home or office
- register the media services (such as
blogs) you use frequently
- Cyber-shot Handbook: a detailed instruction booklet
(PDF)
- Product Registration: register your camera online
System Requirements: You can copy images from the DSC-H55 to
a Windows PC or a Macintosh computer. The supplied Picture Motion Browser
software can only be used on a Windows PC; it cannot be used on a Macintosh. The minimum system requirements are:
- Windows:
- Operating System: Microsoft
Windows XP (SP3), Windows Vista (SP2), or Windows 7
- CPU: Intel Pentium III 800 MHz
or faster (for playing/editing high definition movies: Intel Core
Duo 1.66 GHz or faster / Intel Core 2 Duo 1.20 GHz or faster
- Memory: 512 MB or more (for
playing/editing high definition movies: 1GB or more)
- Hard Disk: Approximately 500MB required for
installation
- Display: 1024 x 768 dots or more
- Macintosh:
- USB Connection: Mac OS
X (v10.3 to v10.6)
- Music Transfer/PMB Portable: Mac OS X (v10.4 to v10.6)
